Celebrate: The Neglected Motivator

As one year ends and another begins, the very common bad habit to focus on what hasn’t been accomplished, is alive and well—the unfinished goals, the missed opportunities, or the ongoing challenges. But how often do we pause to celebrate what we have achieved?

Celebrating success is about more than just feeling good in the moment; it’s about recognising progress, building momentum, and finding clarity to move forward with purpose. Yet so many of us skip this vital step, staying stuck in a cycle of “not enough.”

A Reflection: Lucy’s Story

Take Lucy, for example, a client I worked with earlier this year. She came to me looking for help with motivation and focus, frustrated that she couldn’t complete a program she was trying to write for her new clients.

During our Rediscovery Session, I asked her to reflect on the year that had passed, highlighting her wins and losses broken down - work, family, friends, finances, self-care. At first, all Lucy could see was what she hadn’t done. She was consumed by the frustration of her writer’s block - she was struggling to finish a program she had created and had completely lost motivation and inspiration.

But as we unpacked her year, the reflection was truly eye-opening. In the past 12 months, Lucy had:

• Had a minor stroke.
• Changed jobs.
• Started her own business.
• Finally after 10 years fallen pregnant and was now six months along.

When Lucy saw everything she had been through, written out in colourful markers on an A3 sheet, she paused. She let out a massive sigh, nearly in tears. For the first time, she realised the immense weight she had been carrying—not just the demands of her unfinished program but the sheer enormity of her year.

Lucy decided it was time to let go of the pressure and expectations she had placed on herself. She created a new timeline, postponed non-urgent tasks, and even delegated a few. Most importantly, we created a list of ways she could celebrate each milestone she had achieved—and planned to celebrate future wins in a ceremonial, meaningful way.

The result? With less pressure and a lighter emotional load, Lucy not only found peace of mind but eventually finished her program in her own time.

Why Celebrating Wins Matters

Lucy’s story is a reminder of something many of us overlook: we’re so focused on what we haven’t done that we forget to give ourselves credit for what we have achieved.

Without celebrating wins, it’s easy to get stuck in an endless loop of to-dos, feeling like you’re never doing enough. But when we pause to reflect, we:

• Acknowledge our progress and build confidence.
• Release unrealistic expectations that weigh us down.
• Create space for gratitude, which fuels motivation and clarity.

A Simple Practice for Celebrating Wins

If you’ve been caught up in what’s unfinished, take a moment to try this:

1. List Your Achievements
   Write down everything you’ve accomplished this year—big or small. This could be personal growth, professional milestones, or even moments of resilience.
2. Celebrate Meaningfully
   Choose a way to honour your wins. It could be as simple as sharing your progress with a friend, treating yourself, or taking time to reflect on how far you’ve come.
3. Reassess Your Load
   Look at your current task list. Are there items you can delegate, delay, or remove altogether? Lightening the load allows you to move forward with greater ease.
4. Create a Habit of Celebration
   Moving forward, commit to celebrating your wins regularly. Whether it’s weekly, monthly, or quarterly, make it a ceremonial practice to recognise your progress.

Embrace the Power of Celebration

Celebrating your successes is not about ignoring the challenges; it’s about creating balance. It helps you move forward with a lighter heart, a clearer mind, and renewed energy.  But you're also building self-confidence and resilience in highlighting what you've been through to accomplish what you've accomplished. 

As you reflect on your year, take the time to honour your journey—just as Lucy did. And if you’re looking for guidance, the Reflecting Forward Workbook is here to help. With exercises designed to celebrate, release, and recalibrate, it’s the perfect tool to set you up for an incredible year ahead.

Download your free copy REFLECTING FORWARD WORKBOOK and start celebrating your wins today!